The analysis
and deconstruction of a sentence is a vital skill in understanding language.
Sentence analysis is not always easy but it is an essential tool in understanding
how language works. Sentence analysis is often referred to as "Grammar"
but the latter is a sometimes imprecisely used word for "a systematic
account of the rules governing language" (Crystal). Analysis of a
particular sentence will demonstrate that you have some understanding
of the meaning of grammar, of what a rule is, of what is accepted usage
and how to interpret meaning and its significance.

It cannot be
stressed too strongly that the ability to deconstruct a sentence is essential
for any candidate seeking to achieve a good grade at English Language
AS/A Level.

The pages below
look at grammatical analysis in a variety of ways. But let's get one
thing straight right at the beginning. Standard English has a set of grammatical
rules of its own. English dialects have their own grammatical rules too,
which are sometimes the same as, and sometimes different from, Standard
English. Latin has a grammar too. These grammatical rules are not
the same! Whatever some people say, do not let old rules of Latin grammar
interfere with modern rules of English grammar. English grammar differs
in many ways - and one in particular - word order - provides a good example:

Latin is an
inflected language - that is, it used word endings to convey the relationships
between words, whether a word was a subject or an object for example.
However English has relatively few inflections and makes the relationship
between words by using both word order and prepositions.

The classic
example of
Word Order v Inflection is the Latin canis
hominem mordet
which in English would mean
the dog bites
the man.

Latin could change the word order of this sentence without
significantly changing its meaning - but if we change the word order in
English it could become ...

The man bites the dog
... an entirely
different meaning caused entirely by a change in word order.
To change
the Latin meaning would involve changing the word endings.

There, that's
that over with. Now read on about the interesting bits of English grammar!